The St. John’s Hospital Cemetery and Environs, Cambridge: Contextualizing the Medieval Urban Dead

Abstract

The excavation of four hundred complete and partial in situ burials from the Hospital of St. John the Evangelist, Cambridge, represented one of the largest medieval hospital osteoarchaeological assemblages from the British Isles. The significance of the group is enhanced by the detailed investigation of a carefully maintained network of pathways associated with the cemetery, the archaeological sequence that pre- and post-dated its use and a number of contemporary properties that were situated immediately outside its bounds. This evidence allows the cemetery to be placed within its urban context in a way that is rarely possible. The overwhelming majority of the burials were extended west-east aligned supine inhumations without grave-goods. Atypical burials included examples aligned east-west and south-north, a double burial, a prone burial and individuals buried with a jet crucifix and a brooch. Other significant finds included a nearby pit with four bodies in it, an anthropomorphic bone handle and a reused cruciform horse harness pendant. The proportion of males and females in the burial population is similar, whilst individuals who died under the age of sixteen are relatively uncommon and individuals aged under five are completely absent.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

All phases of the archaeological work have been greatly aided by the helpful attitude of the client, St. John’s College, Cambridge, and full acknowledgements for individual investigations are given in the relevant grey literature, including the many specialists whose work has contributed to our understanding of the site. A great debt is owed to the project manager for the CAU, Alison Dickens, for her support.

With regard to the named contributors Rachel Ballantyne studied the plant remains, Alison Dickens was responsible for the Chapel Court investigations, Natasha Dodwell studied the human remains and David Hall the medieval pottery, Richard Newman was responsible for the Corfield Court and St. Johns College First Court investigations, Mary Price undertook work on the stable isotopes under the supervision of Tamsin O’Connell, Mark Samuel studied the moulded stone, David Smith was responsible for the work on the insect remains and Simon Timberlake studied the metalworking evidence. The stable isotope analysis was funded by a grant from the D. M. McDonald grants and awards fund. Sam Lucy also provided valuable assistance with the analysis of the skeletons. Sonia O’Connor identified the anthropomorphic handle as being made of animal bone rather than from ivory. Richard Newman kindly read a draft of the text. The publication graphics were produced by Andy Hall, and include artefact illustrations by Vicki Herring and photography by Dave Webb. Thanks are also due to the three anonymous referees whose comments significantly improved the paper.

The reports relevant to the cemetery are all accessible at the Library of Unpublished Fieldwork Reports hosted by the Archaeology Data Service at http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archives/view/greylit/

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Craig Cessford

Craig Cessford, Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Division of Archaeology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3DZ, UK.